Recently in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree Robotics, shared a video on social media featuring his company’s humanoid robot, G1, dancing to music. The robot’s fluid and highly coordinated movements quickly went viral, sparking heated discussions online. However, some netizens questioned whether the video was AI-generated or created using CGI, as the realism seemed almost unbelievable.

In response to scepticism, Wang Xingxing re-released an unedited version of the video on 18th February, this time without music. To prove the footage was authentic, a large mirror was placed behind the robot to show there was no post-production editing. Additionally, the video included an interference test, where staff members attempted to disrupt the robot’s performance using a stick and a football. Despite these obstacles, the G1 robot maintained its balance and continued dancing.

“This is a newly developed feature from the past few days and hasn’t been rolled out to customers yet,” Wang explained.

Despite this clarification, some social media platforms still flagged the video with a warning stating it "may contain AI-generated content," fuelling further debate. Experts noted that this reaction highlights the rapid advancements in AI and robotics, with technology now reaching a level where distinguishing reality from digital creations is becoming increasingly difficult.

Unitree Robotics specialises in high-performance bionic robots, including quadruped and humanoid models. The G1 humanoid robot previously made an appearance at the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, showcasing its advanced capabilities. Equipped with a high-degree-of-freedom motion control system, AI computing, and real-time sensors, the G1 can perform complex dynamic tasks such as dancing, running, and interacting with humans.

The company is actively refining the G1’s abilities and has hinted that future versions could achieve sprinting speeds surpassing those of humans in the 100-metre dash. Industry experts believe this marks a new era in humanoid robotics, with potential applications in smart manufacturing, service industries, and specialised task execution.